EA Blitz nets few offenders

25 April, 2006 02:00:00 Julian

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Anglers across the North East were congratulated today for fishing legally over the Easter period.

Environment enforcement officers spent the four days over Easter visiting 36 locations around the region, checking that 1,109 people had a rod license. Of these, 17 admitted they did not have one, and a 24 claimed they had left it at home. Although it is an offence not to able to produce a licence when fishing, these people will be given seven days to prove they have one, or they will face the same fate as those who fishing illegally.

A fisheries enforcement team leader for the Environment Agency said: 'A team of eight officers worked all weekend checking that anglers were playing by the rules, and we're delighted to find that most of them were.'

'All the money received from rod licence payments is ploughed back into our funding & technical teams which give free advice to fishery owners. We spend money on habitat improvements, surveys which tell us about the state our rivers and events to encourage more people to take up the sport, so People who choose to fish without a licence are only cheating the rest of angling.'

Buying licence couldn't be easier as they are available by phone, through the Agency's website, or from Post Offices around the country.

The adult licence costs from £24 (£65 for salmon and trout), but the fine in a magistrate's court for fishing without one is up to £2,500.

For more information visit: http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk

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